pH is a quantitative measurement of acidity/alkalinity of the soil. pH is typically rated on a scale of 0-14; 0 being acidic and 14 being alkaline. In the Northeast our soil is typically acidic. Adding lime raises the pH and is commonly referred to as “sweetening” the soil.

Proper pH can ensure that the nutrients in the soil are available to plants and that they aren’t leaching out of the soil. Adding too much lime to raise the pH or too much sulfur to lower pH can be detrimental to your soil because it can kill off essential microorganisms.